Maurice Drouhin was a French officer who was born in Beaune in 1888. Fluent in both German and English from a young age, he served in World War I as a liaison officer attached to the U.S. Army’s 84th Infantry Brigade of the 42nd “Rainbow” Division.

During the fighting at the Côte de Châtillon in October 1918, Drouhin played a crucial role in maintaining communication on the battlefield. When enemy fire disrupted signal lines and made it impossible for runners to pass, he voluntarily crossed a dangerous gap between front-line units to deliver orders. His actions, carried out under intense fire and at great personal risk, were vital to coordinating the attack. For his extraordinary heroism, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on the recommendation of Douglas MacArthur.

After the war, Drouhin returned to Beaune and took over the family wine business, expanding its vineyards and helping establish its long-term success. During World War II, he again faced danger when he was arrested by German authorities on suspicion of aiding fugitives. He avoided harsher punishment by presenting evidence of his earlier humane act toward a wounded German soldier during World War I. Later, he joined the French Resistance and went into hiding to evade arrest, eventually being sheltered for months by nuns in the Hospices de Beaune. In gratitude for their protection, Drouhin donated part of his vineyard to the Hospices, where a wine bearing his name continues to be produced in his honor.

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